Advertising device



F. A. WUOTILA 233E904 ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1939 30 YQQRCHN EQLQ A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for the display of advertising, and has particular reference to such a machine constructed so as to simulate any of several different types of slot machines or other commonly used gambling apparatus, and thus initially arouse the interest and curiosity of the public.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine having in association therewith a message of warning against gambling, this further stimulating the interest of the public because of the psychologically antagonistic concepts in juxtaposition.

Anotl' er object of the invention is to provide such a machine which is operated in a manner similar to an ordinary slot machine, the operation of the machine setting into motion apparatus which reveals hidden advertising, and since the operator anticipates a gambling result, the unexpected result serves to focus and increase his attention on the advertising through contrast.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a section on the line |--l of Figure 2, illustrating the position of the coin chute, sign and objects in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a broken rear elevation of the same showing the interior mechanism.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine partly broken away.

In the drawing, the numerals l and 2 represent the end walls of a suitable housing, while 3, 4, 5 and 6 indicate the base, front wall, top and back, respectively, and in order to make the same simulate somewhat the appearance of a common gambling machine, the top is sloped downwardly and forwardly, and from the front edge of which to the top edge of the front wall 4 the side walls I and 2 are made arcuate in form on a radius preferably from the center of the operating shaft 1. This arcuate portion is covered with a framed transparent material such as celluloid, Cellophane, glass, or the like, indicated at 8 so as to readily make visible at times the upper part of the interior of the housing. The frame part of this transparent front member is illustrated at 9, preferably hinged as at H), and through which the interior is made accessible, the lower edge of the frame being provided with a suitable locking means, as indicated at ll.

This window like opening in the front of the housing is normally closed as by a similarly shaped arcuate wall or plate indicated at l2, supported by two triangularly shaped end walls [3 mounted upon the shaft 1 and rockable thereby. This shaft 1 is journalled in any desired manner in the end walls I and 2 of the housing and made rotatable as by the lever [4 extending outwardly of one end wall thereof and provided with a suit-able handle IE to provide means somewhat similar to a common slot machine. I have shown the end walls l3 of this rockable shield as being provided with counterweights Hi to normally retain the shield I2 in its uppermost position in protecting the interior of the housing from view, this being in lieu of th provision of springs or the like for such maintenance of the shield, and obviously such a counterweight may be attached to the shaft without being associated with the end walls l3 as shown,

To provide for the structure further simulating a common slot machine, there is installed adjacent the end wall 2 an upwardly protruding slot unit indicated at I! for the reception of a coin or its equivalent in shape, one of which is indicated at 18 as functioning in the release of the locking mechanism. At the edge of this slot member is a depending catch indicated at I9 for engagement with the reversed terminus 20 of the free end of the trigger lever 2| which is pivotally mounted as at 22 on the juxtaposed end l3 of the shield. The opposite end of this lever is also counterweighted as at 23 and made to oscillate intermediate of the twosuitable stops 24 and 25, carried by such end member, so that r the movement of the free nd of this lever is properly regulated to also engage the catch l9 unless lowered by the weight of the coin l8 when dropped into the slot, thus preventing rocking motion of the shield unless the free end of the lever 2| is depressed and disengaged from the catch I9. When this latter freedom of the lever 2| occurs, it then becomes possible for the operator to depress the lever l4, thereby rocking the shaft which will lower the shield and expose the interior of the housing.

A coin track or chute, indicated at 26, is provided and illustrated as attached to the end wall 2 of the housing, and in line with the discharge of the slot unit l1, so that when the coin, or its equivalent, is released from said locking position and arcuately moved by the rocking of the shield member, the coin will fall into such track and drop immediately into the return cup 21. In connection with this operation of the device it is deemed expedient and conducive to the pleasure of the operator that a sign be visible, such as indicated at 28, and supported in any desired manner within the receptacle behind the shield I2, and upon which the statement such as suggested at 29, Will appear, notifying him that his coin is in the cup. This statement is only incidental to the paramount object of the invention, that of attracting attention to either advertising media, such as printed matter alone setting forth certain facts about what is being advertised, or in combination with objects, either amusing, attractive, or otherwise, such as suggested at 30, and supported in any desired manner within the receptacle behind the shield, appearing before the operator and there remaining until release of the lever M, when the counterweight l6 will function to return both the shield and lever to normal position as illustrated in the drawing.

As a further novelty in connection with the entertainment phase of the device I have illustrated an inverted bell member indicated at 3|, the upstanding axial supporting stem 32 of which is so positioned as to be engaged by the clapper 33 resiliently supported by the spring like member 34 fixed to the shaft I in any desired manner, so that as the latter is rotated and approaches the finality of such action the clapper 33 will snap over the upper end of the stem 32 and strike the bell with added energy, thus including sound with the action of the machine, and still further resembling a slot machine.

In such a unit it is further contemplated to associate various forms of advertising matter on the top of the housing, and which, preferably, may be in the way of discouragement of gambling, as desired, and for such purpose cards may be provided and supported on the top of the housing intermediate of the spring clips indicated at 35, as suggested in dotted lines, and changed from time to time to suit individual circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An advertising device of the class described, comprising a housing provided with a window, a shaft extending through opposite walls of said housing, a rockable shield structure mounted on said shaft and visible through said window, an operating lever mounted on one end of said shaft externally of said housing for rocking said shield structure, a coin slot, a coin releasable locking lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to one end of said shield structure within said housing and having one end located in the path of a coin traversing said slot, and means on said slot and engageable with said lever for holding said shield structure against rocking until a coin has been dropped in said slot and fallen on said lever.

2, An advertising device of the class described comprising a housing provided with a window, a shaft extending through opposite Walls of said housing, a rockable shield structure mounted on said shaft visible through said window, an operating lever mounted on one end of said shaft externally of said housing for rocking said shield structure, a coin slot, a coin releasable locking lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to one end of said shield structure within said housing and having one end located in the path of a coin traversing said slot, means carried by said slot and normally engageable with said lever for holding said shield structure against rocking, and means whereby the weight of a coin dropped in said slot will release said lever and permit rocking of said disc.

FRANK A. WUOTILA. 

